10 yo suicide bomber blows up at crowded market in Nigeria, kills more than 15

ARCHIVE PHOTO: People gather to look at a burnt vehicle following a bomb explosion that rocked the busiest roundabout near the crowded Monday Market in Maiduguri, Borno State, on July 1, 2014 (AFP Photo / Stringer) / AFP

A suicide bomber as young as 10 years old blew herself up at a market in Nigeria, killing between 16 and 20 people, according to different estimates. More than 20 people sustained wounds in the attack, which no group has claimed responsibility for so far.

Reports vary on how many
people died in the attack. According to Reuters, at least 16 have
been killed and 27 injured. At the same time, AFP has cited Borno
State police spokesman Gideon Jubrin, who said there were 20
deaths, including the suicide bomber, and another 18
wounded.

According to a Red Cross official, who spoke to the news agency
on condition of anonymity, “many people sustained
life-threatening injuries.”

The explosion happened at a Market in Maiduguri, the capital of
Borno state at about 12:15 pm local time (11:15 GMT) when the
market was full of customers and salesmen. Witnesses say the bomb
was remotely controlled.

The girl was stopped at the entrance as the metal detector showed
she had something strapped to her body.

"The explosive devices were wrapped around her body and the
girl looked no more than 10 years old," a police source told
Reuters.

The explosive devise detonated while the girl was being searched.

“I doubt much if she actually knew what was strapped to her
body," Civilian vigilante Ashiru Mustapha has been cited by
AFP as saying. "But sadly, the explosion went off before she
was isolated,” he added.

“I am pretty sure the bomb was remotely controlled,” one
of the witnesses has also told the news agency.

No organization has taken responsibility for the attack, however,
Boko Haram militants who control the area bordering Maiduguri are
suspected as they are known for using female suicide bombers. An
incident in June 2014 in Gombe was followed by a series of deadly
attacks. However, this is the first case of using a child as a
suicide bomber.

The market was a terrorist target twice last year. Maiduguri is
under control of the government and is often attacked by Boko
Haram militants whose aim is establishing a Muslim caliphate
based on Sharia law.

Over 10,000 people died in clashes with the militants and in
terrorist attacks in Nigeria in 2014.

The recent attack in the town of Baga could be the deadliest
attack by Boko Haram since the extremist group surfaced in 2009
with some reports putting the number of fatalities as high as
2,000.